Pagosa Country continues to contend with challenges and damage caused by a pair of major floods that moved through the area in recent weeks, with local, regional, state and federal resources continuing work in the area.
This week, county and state resources indicated the response is moving from an emergency to a recovery phase as Archuleta County lifted evacuation orders on Monday, Nov. 9.
The week also brought the confirmation of a death related to the flooding.
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Archuleta County Coroner Brad Hunt confirmed that Robert Scott, 83, of Pagosa Springs, died on his home property off a U.S. Forest Service road near the Snowball drainage area.
Hunt indicated the cause of death was “drowning by flood,” along with blunt-force trauma to the head and chest.
Hunt also indicated that Scott was found on his property on Nov. 8.
Mandatory evacuations lifted
On Monday, Nov. 9, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) announced that all mandatory evacuation orders related to the recent flooding had been lifted throughout Archuleta County.
“While this is an important step toward recovery, significant infrastructure damage remains throughout the County,” a press release states. “Residents should only return home if it is safe to do so and reliable access is available via roads and bridges. Many roads and bridges remain damaged or impassable, and access to certain areas may continue to be restricted.
“Crews continue working to restore critical infrastructure, but some repairs may take several months, particularly with winter approaching.”
It also notes the ACSO “strongly encourages”residents in areas with compromised or limited access to consider voluntarily evacuating and making alternative living arrangements for the coming months.
“Damaged infrastructure and worsening winter conditions may significantly impact emergency response capabilities, access to essential supplies, and the ability to safely travel to and from these areas,” it states.
The press release adds, “Residents are urged to evaluate their personal safety, access to utilities, and emergency needs before deciding to return or remain in affected areas. Please respect all road closures and barricades, avoid unsafe crossings, and continue monitoring official County updates.”
Colorado National Guard continues response
On Monday, Nov. 9, the Colorado National Guard (CONG) also indicated its response to the flooding in southwest Colorado was entering the recovery phase as Task Force Ground Search and Rescue activated more than 20 CONG members with five tactical vehicles.
The task force, according to a CONG press release, is supporting incident command reconnaissance, assessment, recovery and extraction capabilities.
A Nov. 10 flood update from the ACSO notes the task force deployed to various areas, delivering meals ready to eat (MREs), drinking water and other essential support to residents impacted by the flooding.
It adds crews also made contact with 17 residents along the County Road 500 corridor, checking on their well-being, identifying immediate needs and gathering information to help determine what additional assistance may be necessary.
“These face-to-face interactions remain an important part of our response, particularly for residents living in areas where damaged infrastructure continues to limit access,” the ACSO update states.
Since activating on Oct. 22, the CONG notes it has rescued 65 people and more than 30 pets in southwest Colorado.
“I’m proud of what our Colorado National Guard members have accomplished in the past couple weeks and know they will continue to be a critical asset our neighbors in need,” said Director of Joint Staff U.S. Army Brig. Gen. William DiProfio. “Our teams have the capability to save lives, reduce suffering, and protect property, and they are doing a great job in a potentially high-risk environment.”
CONG notes the use of its forces in a support role relieves local first responders actively responding to calls in the community.
Preliminary damage
assessments
Joint preliminary damage assessments were slated to be conducted Tuesday, Nov. 10, through Thursday, Nov. 12, across southwest Colorado in Archuleta, Conejos, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma and Rio Grande counties, according to a press release from the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center.
According to the center, assessment teams include representatives from each county, the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
A member of United Way’s 211 team was also join the individual assistance teams.
“Officials will conduct onsite assessments to verify damages caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred in October and November. The assessments are for both the FEMA Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs,” according to the center.
Joint preliminary damage assessments, it explains, are the first step required for the state to determine if a major disaster declaration can be requested by the governor to FEMA.
The verified information collected during the assessments is used to designate areas eligible for assistance and the type of assistance available.
Multiple damage assessment teams were slated to be in each county, with one team focusing on the Individual Assistance program and a second team supporting Public Assistance assessments.
All teams will work through Thursday. The team members will be identified with their official agency logos.
Preliminary damage assessments focused on FEMA’s Individual Assistance program will identify the impact, type and extent of disaster damages to individuals and their primary homes, according to the center. Teams will also assess insurance coverage, local economic impact and other factors.
If requested and approved, the center explains, the Individual Assistance Program helps individuals and households with uninsured damages to primary homes and property that occurred during the incident period.
The state of Colorado has been working with the impacted counties and individuals to fully assess the damages. FEMA validates the information and documentation. The state will then use the verified information collected during the assessments to determine whether a major disaster declaration will be requested by the governor, it adds.
The assessments for FEMA’s Public Assistance programs will identify and validate costs associated with damages to public infrastructure. If requested and approved, the center explains, FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides funding to government agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations to repair or replace damaged public infrastructure and for emergency actions taken to protect lives and property.
If a major disaster declaration is made, the declaration will designate areas eligible for assistance and the type of assistance available, the center notes. There is no specific timeline for the federal government to approve or deny requests for presidential disaster declarations.
Utility updates
On Thursday, Nov. 5, the Town of Pagosa Springs announced that crews from Durango and Boulder had arrived to assist local teams with ongoing sewer system repairs.
Most of Archuleta School District’s schools remained closed due to the needed sewer system work in the downtown area, with the district announcing on Monday, Nov. 9, “At this point, Town Public Works officials have completed needed repairs to the sewer system, downtown conditions have been deemed safe, all school buildings are safe for students and staff, we have sufficient staffing to support students’ return, and transportation services are ready to resume (with some route adjustments ...).”
Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) District Engineer Justin Ramsey provided an update to the PAWSD board on flooding impacts to the district at its Nov. 5 meeting.
Ramsey explained that PAWSD lost a water line under the bridge on U.S. 160 near 1st Street, depriving the businesses on the north side of the highway east of the bridge of water.
“The only way to get them water is to tie into the 6-inch line on the south side and bore underneath,” Ramsey said, adding that PAWSD received permission to do this from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) on Nov. 4 and that PAWSD was working with the company CDOT had hired to do boring in the area since they have recent experience in the area and there is “a lot of risk” with a variety of buried infrastructure that could be damaged in the area.
He indicated that water for these businesses would be restored once the boring is complete.
Ramsey stated that a large amount of sediment accumulated in the pond used to divert water for the district’s San Juan water treatment plant and that it would have to be removed before resuming operations of this plant.
He added that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was also concerned about the potential for raw sewage contamination due to sewage spills into the river upstream and that the diversion and pond would have to be fully drained and cleaned before use resumes.
Ramsey indicated that the diversion and pipeline from the West Fork of the San Juan River that feeds the Snowball water treatment plant was damaged, but that PAWSD staff were still working to assess what this damage might be.
The water line that feeds the Log Park subdivision also broke, he stated, and PAWSD staff were working on repairing it.
The water line at the Apache Street bridge over the San Juan was also lost, but it did not result in customers losing water due to pipe infrastructure in the area and would be repaired at a later time, Ramsey indicated.
Stevens Reservoir also overflowed through its spillway and washed out part of Honeybee Place, although it did not damage the culverts on the road and the road is currently “passable.”
He added that exposed pipes caused by washouts on North Pagosa Boulevard and Mockingbird Lane would also have to be replaced in the future, although they are currently functioning.
“I’ve told [District Manage Andrew Connor] many times, but, if you see the rest of the staff, including all the gals, tell them how much, I think I can speak for the board, say how much we appreciate them,” said PAWSD chairman Gene Tautges. “There’s a boatload of overtime that’s gone in, so we’re going to have some increased cost there, but considering we just went through one of the worst disasters this county’s ever seen, I think we’re doing all right.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 11, the PAWSD website contains a notice stating, “PAWSD is currently making repairs on the raw water line that provides water to the Snowball Water Treatment Plant. That is the primary water source for the downtown area. We do have an alternative water source while we make these repairs. The water is safe to drink, but please conserve for the next few days while the repairs are being made. Thank you for your cooperation.”
No further updates on PAWSD repair efforts were available by press time.
As of Monday, Nov. 9, La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) noted on its website that 145 meters remain out, the majority of which are just north and east of Lake Navajo off Colo. 151 and County Road 500.
“Accessibility continues to be the main obstacle,” the website states in the Nov. 9 updates. “Today, crews are working on smaller, scattered outages throughout Archuleta county. Crews are also addressing several poles and cables around our services area that were washed out or displaced by flood waters.
It notes that, along Colo. 151 LPEA has multiple poles that need to be replaced and lines that must be rerouted.
“As soon as we can access this area, we’ll get the remaining 28 meters back in power,” it states.
For County Road 500, it notes, “Landowner are working with Archuleta County Road and Bridge crews to gain some access into this area.”
Communications outage planned for Nov. 12
According to the Archuleta County Broadband Services Management Office, CenturyLink/Lumen is required to perform a preemptive cut and splice of the main fiber optic line between Pagosa and Durango from 7 to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, to avoid a unplanned outage at a location where CDOT needs to perform emergency repairs on U.S. 160.
“CDOT is working [feverishly] to get the Hwy 160/151 corridor open ASAP and a recently discovered flood exposed conduit is preventing these necessary repairs from commencing,” a statement from the office explains.
It adds that, like any unplanned fiber cut, during the outage window there will be virtually no cell coverage, no CenturyLink, Zito or Clearnetworx land-based Internet, and Visionary will be on its backup microwave link, but probably very sluggish due very high demand.
Governor issues update
“Coloradans are known for supporting each other, and we are seeing that again across Southwestern Colorado as communities recover from severe flooding. The state has teams on the ground and resources ready for Coloradans who have lost homes, income or access to basic services. This is a collaborative effort and I am thankful to the Colorado National Guard, local teams, state teams, volunteers, and everyone working around-the-clock on search and rescue, road repair and critical disaster recovery efforts. We are making sure workers, families and small businesses can find support, rebuild and have as many resources as possible to get back on their feet,” said Gov. Jared Polis in a Tuesday, Nov. 10, update.
The update also included additional resources available to those impacted by the flooding.
Resources for impacted
workers
To assist affected workers and employers, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) compiled an online list of resources to help workers navigate the various wage replacement resources available to them including:
• Paid sick leave covered by the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA): Under HFWA, workers who missed work due to the flood evacuations, loss of power or damage may be able to use their accrued paid sick leave to cover these absences.
• Temporary wage replacement through Unemployment Insurance (UI): Workers who lost their jobs due to flooding, cannot reach their workplace, or their employer closed because of flooding, may be eligible for unemployment insurance. Whether or not workers receive unemployment benefits depends on individual circumstances and Colorado law.
• Paid family and medical leave via the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program: Workers who were injured or became ill because of the flooding may qualify for paid medical leave while they recover. This includes mental health conditions that require ongoing care. If a family member was injured or became ill, workers may qualify for paid leave to care for them.
“Coloradans living in the southwest part of our state have endured devastating flooding, and we’re committed to ensuring impacted workers are aware of the support and resources available to them,” said CDLE Executive Director Joe Barela. “We stand alongside our local communities and partner agencies, as Southwestern Colorado navigates recovery.”
Additional resources for
impacted Coloradans
• Survivor portal: https://crisistrack.juvare.com/SurvivorPortal/index.html.
• Immediate emergencies: Call 911.
• Emergency alerts: Coloradans are encouraged to sign up to receive emergency alerts for their county.
• Assistance, shelter and temporary lodging: Coloradans can call 211, text their zip code to 898-211, or visit 211 Colorado’s disaster response page.
• Road conditions and closures: Visit COtrip.org or use the COtrip Planner app.
• Volunteer cleanup assistance: To request free volunteer help, call (970) 283-7325.
• Local updates, damage-reporting links and additional resources: Visit DHSEM’s regularly updated State Emergency Operation Center Updates page at https://dhsem.colorado.gov/taxonomy/term/100014.
Additional information on resources is available at www.PagosaSUN.com.
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